BSkyB Sells ITV Stake to Liberty Global

Buyer says it has no plans to make a takeover for ITV following the $824 million stake purchase.

LONDON (The Deal) -- 21st Century Fox (FOXA) affiliate British Sky Broadcasting Group on Thursday, July 17, said it had sold almost all of its remaining stake in ITV to John Malone's Liberty Global for £481 million ($824.2 million).

BSkyB said it sold just over 259.8 million shares, or a 6.4% ITV stake, at 185 pence per share, 0.6% more than ITV's Wednesday closing price. It plans to use the proceeds for "general corporate purposes."

The stake building by Liberty raises questions about Malone's long-term intentions towards Britain's largest commercial terrestrial TV broadcaster but Liberty on Thursday said it has no plans to make a takeover offer; under the U.K. Takeover Code that statement ties its hands for six months under most circumstances.

"This is an opportunistic and attractive investment for us in our largest cable market. ITV is the leading commercial broadcaster in the U.K. and we're excited to be shareholders," said Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries in a statement.

Liberty has previously tried to parlay minority stakes into full control and is currently negotiating with EC regulators to complete its agreed €4.9 billion ($6.7 Billion) bid for the outstanding 71.5% of Dutch cable company Ziggo.

The ITV share purchase also chimes with a quest for content among cable companies and telecom operators. In May Liberty agreed to make a joint £550 million offer for Permira-backed U.K. production company All3Media with Discovery Communications (DISCA).

Liberty said it will finance the purchase in part through a loan linked to a hedging transaction that would be secured by ITV shares. It said the transaction doesn't require regulatory approvals.